Rodent-borne disease claims three more lives in California county after Gene Hackman's wife reportedly died of HPS

Hollywood actor Gene Hackman's wife, Betsy Arakawa’s recent death brought the rare respiratory disease, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, to the attention of the public.

Incidentally, the rare respiratory disease, which is caused when the patient comes in contact with rodents like mice and rats, is back in the news. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which claimed Arakawa’s life in New Mexico in February, has recently been found to have been the cause of three more deaths in California.

Recent cases of the rodent-borne disease in California

According to a report by CBS, three people succumbed to the rare disease in a rural California town recently. Mammoth Lakes, a town in California’s Mono County, reported the deaths in the first week of April. As per the CBS report, Mono County’s Public Health Officer, Dr Tom Boo, while speaking to the media said,

“The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried, especially this early in the year…I want to emphasize that as far as we know, none of these three deceased individuals engaged in activities typically associated with exposure, such as cleaning out poorly ventilated indoor areas or outbuilding with a lot of mouse water.”

Explaining the cause of the disease among human beings, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mentions on its website:

“People get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice, especially when exposed to their urine, droppings, and saliva. It can also spread through a bite or scratch by a rodent, but this is rare.”

Dr Tom Boo, while giving his statement to the media about the recent cases in Mono County, also gave a word of caution, saying,

“Many of us encounter deer mice in our daily lives and there is some risk. We should pay attention to the presence of mice and be careful around their waste.”

According to the website of the University of California Statewide IPM Program, deer mice are the most abundant mammal in North America. The website also mentions that deer mice can be distinguished and identified by their bicoloured tail.

The CDC states that to prevent exposure to the virus that causes this rare disease, it is important to keep habitats and workplaces free of rodents. To do so, the CDC advises that gaps in homes should be sealed as rodents are small in size and can enter through them.

Apart from this, the CDC also advises that people should clean up easy-to-access food, which is a common reason why rodents are attracted to homes, and further, as precaution against rodent infestations, traps should be placed in and around dwellings and work places.

As per a report by the BBC, the CDC reported 864 cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome between 1993 and 2022.

The circumstances surrounding Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s deaths

According to CNN, Gene Hackman passed away on February 18, roughly one week after the passing of his wife and primary caregiver, Betsy Arakawa.

While Arawaka succumbed to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, most likely on February 11, Gene Hackman died due to natural causes and was suffering from heart disease and advanced Alzheimer’s, as per USA Today.

Gene Hackman’s death opened up the debate about the challenges that patients suffering from memory loss face, particularly regarding their vulnerability when their primary caregivers are unable to be there for their loved ones.

USA Today notes that Gene Hackman was alone with his wife’s dead body for several days, most likely unable to comprehend that Arakawa had passed away, and his autopsy revealed that the actor hadn’t eaten in days. Hackman, in his last few days, was probably unable to carry out any basic functions on his own or call for help.